new duster

“I, uh,” Molly said as I pulled the Caddy into the marina parking lot. “I got you something.”
“Eh?” I asked.
“I had them rush it out this morning and we got it this afternoon. I mean, you know. As long as I was using Thomas’s card anyway.”
I blinked. “You embezzled funds from the White Court to get me a present?”
“I like to think of it less as embezzling and more as an involuntary goodwill contribution,” she said.
“Careful,” I told her. “You don’t want to get entangled with Lara and her crew. Even owing them money isn’t smart.”
“I didn’t borrow it, boss. I stole it. If they weren’t cautious enough to stop me, that isn’t my problem. They should be more careful who they hand those cards to. Besides, they can afford it.”
“The entitled younger generation, I swear,” I said. “Well-done.” I found a space big enough for the Munstermobile and parked, then set the emergency brake and killed the engine. “What is it?”
Molly got out of the car. “Come see.”
I started to, but she hurried impatiently around to meet me, digging into her backpack. I shut the car door behind me and she presented me with a paper-covered package tied with string.
I opened it by tearing paper and snapping string, and a long leather garment unrolled.
“Dunh nuh nah nah nunh,” Molly sang, singing the opening riff from “Bad to the Bone.”
I found myself smiling and held up a long coat of heavy black leather, like one of those old cowboy dusters, except for the long mantle hanging down over its shoulders. It smelled like new leather and shone without a scuff mark to be seen. “Where the hell did you find an Inverness coat?” I asked her.
“Internet,” she said. “Security Guy helped me shop for it.”
“You don’t know his name?” I asked.
“His name is Guy, and he’s building security,” Molly said. “Security Guy.”
“And he did this for you why?” I asked.
“Because I’m pretty and because he might have gotten a gift certificate out of the deal.”
“Remind me to never give you one of my credit cards,” I said, and I put the coat on.
The weight of the leather settling around me was familiar and comforting, but this coat wasn’t the same as my old coat. The sleeves were a little longer, and fit better. The shoulders were a little narrower, and actually matched up with mine. The mantle hung down a bit more. The pockets were in a slightly different place. Most significantly, it didn’t have the layers of protective enchantments that took about half a working week to lay down.
But . . .
Yeah, I decided. I could get used to it.


Cold Days Chapter 40, Page 389-390